Heater folding machine



SeP'f- 7, l943- v c5. G. SCHNEIDER ET Al.

' HEATER' FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1944 l l l r l INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER G. G. SCHNEIDER ET A1. 2,448,916

Sept. f7, 1948.

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. '7, 1944 ATTORNEY .Sept 7, 1948. G. G. scHNl-:liDER ETAL k2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING 'MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 7, 1944 INVENTOR g Ill GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L ONOHUE SYM ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL. 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7, 1944 14 sheets-sheet 4.

INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. ONOHU ATTO R EY Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. scHNElDER E'r Al.

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE,

Filed Nov. 7. 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK ONOHUE ATTORN EY Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL HEATER FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 7, 1944 INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. DONOHUE BY f ATTORN EY Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 flNVENToR GERHARD GUNTHER scHNEmER FRANK L. Do oHuE BY t TTORN EY sept. 7, 1948. E. G. SCHNEIDER ET A.. 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed NOV. 7, 1944 lNvl-:NTOR

ATTORNEY GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. DON UE Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1944 l 14 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. NOH

I ATTORNEY SBPL 7, l948- G. G. SCHNEIDER ET'AL .2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Nov. '7, 1944 -r-ifp.

- J' l INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. ONO

' ATTORNEY Sept. 7, 1948.

G. G. SCHNEIDER ETAL HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. fr.. 1944 14 Sheets-'Sheet 11 INVENTOR GERHARD GumHER SGHNEIDEF FRANK .Do

ATTORNEY 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK l.. ooNoHua ATTO R N EY Sept. 7, 1948. G. G. SCHNEIDER l-:TAL

Y HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. '7. 1944 Sept. 7, 1948. G. @SCHNEIDER ETAL 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Nov. 7, 1944 INVENTOR GERHARD G UNTHER SCHNEIDER FRANK L. DONOHUE W# ATTORN EY Sept. 7, .1948. G. G. scHNlDER ET AL 2,448,916

HEATER FOLDING MACHINE GERHARD GUNTHER SCHNEIDER ATTORN EY WEE- Patented Slept. 7, 1943 UNITED- STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,448,916 HEATER FOLDING MACHINE Gerhard' Guntherv Schneider and Frank L. Donohue, Maplewood, N. J., assignors to National Union- RadioA Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation off Delaware AppneatiomNovember 7, 1944, serial No. 562,356

14 Claims.

The invention. herein disclosed relates to a machine for folding wire to form fbld'edi filaments such. as those that. are used in radiovacuum tubes.

A folded filament is used, for example., as the heating element of. the cathode of a vacuum tube.,

and is usually in the form. ofM a zig-zag or M'- shaped fold. This filament consists of a pre-- determinedA length: of a particular siaewire, vin accordance with the. ohmic value d'esired,foldedVV upon itself. It is insertedl vi'n/a container, vsuch for exampleas a cathode sleeve. Generally,4 the wirel of which suchiilamentsare made is a coated wire of extremely smallv diameter, ranging from.

approximately` onel thousandth. of an inch. in diameter to lten thousandths of an. inch.. Heretofore, and prior to. the invention. herein disclosed, saidfilamentswere folded manually, and.

manuallyinserted. into the receptacle. This is a tiresome; tedious, slow and expensive method.

of forming andinserting suchi'laments.. Various.

attempts have been made to effect the. folding. ofsuch filaments mechanically. Although much time and. money hasbeen. expended to that end,

such attempts-as have. been madehave met-Withl indifferent sulccess-l and. have. not been` accepted.

An object of thisinvent-ion. is to provide a` machine for folding suchzlaments andinserting the folded.y filaments= into ar receptacle. Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine in which the filament folding., mechanism.- operates continuously. A further objectof theI invention is to provide a machine of the kind mentioned which mayA be` operated. by. unskilled labor and which requires a minimum' ofk maintenance.

Theforegoing objects and certain advantages, that will hereinafter appear, are realizedinthe embodiment of the invention. illustratedlin. the accompanying drawings and described in detail below, from which description a; clearer understandingr of Vthe" invention may' be had.'

The drawings include:

Fig. 1 which is-a plan of ay lnacliin'elembodying' the invention;

Fig. 2 which isa front (theside facingV the operator) elevation ofi the same;v

Fig. SzwhichLisLasectional elevaticniofthelhead stock on'anenlarged scale;

Fig. 4 which-an endelevation, partly brokenaway, of. the same taken onI the line 4--4e of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 `whichisa.partalsectional plan.v taken on `tixeirregular .line -'ofiig .4 y

Fig. 6 which is a sectional elevation, on an en- Fig. 13 which is a partial plan, on anenlargedscale, ofthe wire feed guide rollers;

Fig. 14 which' is a diagrammatic representation of the section of the wire feed guider for one particular folded filament;-

Fig. 15 which is apartial plan, on an enlarged scale, -of the knife and jaw assembly;

Fig. 16 which is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 17 which is a partial, sectional endelevation of the same taken on the line l'l--H of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 which is an enlarged partial section of the jaws;

Fig. 19 whichis a plan, on an enlarged=scale, of the tail stock of the machine;

Fig. 20 which is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 2l which is a section taken on` the line- E l-2`I of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 which is a section takenl on the'line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 which is an end elevation; ofcertainelectric cams and switches;

Fig. 24 which is a sectional elevation ofI the same;

Fig. 25 which is a detailfelevationof the receiving dial operating mechanism;

Fig. 26 which is a fragmentary elevation of-the winding head with stepped bladestherein; and:

Fig. 27 which illustratesthe folding-.of` a fila- Inent overstepped blades.

The. machine-illustrated in the drawings constitutes a` preferred, but only one example'of an..

embodiment of the invention; This machine! is' of such size that it may be andinl the illustratedembodiment is, mounted upon al table' I speeds. On one end of the head stock, a-rotatable windinghead B (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7i) is mounted. On this winding head. the wire is wound'to form a continuous series offolded filaments. The Wire is fed to the Winding head In' general, the machine comprises a head stock A1 (Figs. 1,` 2, 3; 4 and 5) throughwhich variousy shafts and spindles are driven. in proper relative through wire feed mechanism C (Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 1l, 12 and 13) which is mounted adjacent to and in part above the head stock A. When the desired number of folds are wound, a knife and take-off head D (Figs. l, 2, 15, 16 and 17) moves in, anchors the wire for the start of another filament, clips the wire and removes the folded filament from the winding head. The take-off head then positions the folded filament to be received in the receptacle of a dial receiver E. The action `of the take-olf head D is controlled through the mechanism of a tail stock F.

In operation, the various shafts are driven, in proper relative relation, through the head stock A, by a prime mover, desirably an electric motor 2. The motor 2 is connected through a belt to a speed reducer gear 3, of a kind well-known in the art. A sprocket 4 is mounted on the output shaft of the reducer gear 3 and through a chain 5 connected to a sprocket 6 loosely mounted on an extension bushing 'I of a clutch 8. The clutch 8 connects the ydrive sprocket 6 to a drive shaft 9. IThe clutch 8 may be any of the wellknown types of clutches, and it is, therefore, not shown in detail. The clutch is manually actuated to connect the sprocket 6 to the shaft 9. For observation and adjustment, a hand wheel I0 is secured to the shaft 9 for rotation therewith and through which the machine may be manually turned over.

The head stock A (Figs. 3a 4 and 5) includes the shaft 9 which is a hollow shaft or sleeve. 'I'his shaft is connected, through the clutch 8, to the motor 2, and when the machine is power driven the shaft 9 is continuously rotated. On the shaft 9, there is mounted, for rotation therewith a spur gear II. This gear meshes with a gear I2 (Figs. 4 and 5) secured on a shaft I 3 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). On one end of the shaft I3, there is secured a spur gear I4 which meshes with a change gear I5. This change gear I5 is mounted with a pinion I 6 on a stub shaft I'I extending from a lever I8. A gear I 9, mounted on a shaft 2l) meshes with the pinion I6. The lever I8, on which the gear I5 and pinion I6 are mounted, is pivoted at one end on the shaft and positioned by a clamp screw 2| extending through a slot 22 in a wall 23 of the gear housing. This arrangement is an old and wellknown construction for changing gears to effect a different ratio between the rotation of a main or drive shaft, such as the shaft 9, and another shaft such as the shaft 20. In this manner, and through the train of gears above described, the shafts I and I3 are driven, or rotated, in a one to one ratio, and the shaft 2D is driven or rotated in a ratio to the shafts and I and I3 in accordance with the change gear I5. For one particular filament, the rati-o between the shafts I and 2U may be four to one which ratio will produce an eight leg folded filament on the machine being described.

For a purpose that will hereinafter be apparent, a rod 24 is slidably mounted in the hollow shaft 9. 'I'his rod rotates with the shaft 9. It is spring pressed, by a compression spring 25 (Fig. 3) in one direction and moved in the opposite direction (to the right as seen in Fig. 3), against the action of the spring 25, by the action of a electromagnetic solenoid 26. When energized, the solenoid draws in, or down, its armature 26a. The armature 26a is connected to the end of one arm 21 of a bell crank lever 28the other arm 29 of which engages the end of the rod 24. Thus, the rod 24 is spring pressed to the left (as seen in Fig. 3) and moved against the spring pressure upon energization of the solenoid 26.

The winding or folding head B (Figs. 6 and 7) is mounted on the end of the shaft or spindle 9 for rotation therewith. This folding head includes a housing that consists of an end wall 30 having a bushing or hub 3\I formed integral therewith. The bushing 3l is fitted upon the shaft 9 and secured thereto for support of the housing and for rotation therewith. Top, bottom and side walls 32, 33 and `34 connect the end wall 39 with an end wall 35 and the several walls mentioned constitute the housing of the folding head B.-

The rod 24 has a tongue-like extension 35 on the end thereof which is oblong in cross section. To this-extension, one on each side thereof, there is secured a pair of spaced plates 36. These plates extend into the folding head B and therein have angular edges 3l which extend at an angle to the axis of the rod 24 and in effect act as wedges in the actuation of oppositely ydisposed knife carriers 38 and 39. These knife carriers are identical in construction. The carrier 38 includes a cylindrical portion 40 mounted radially of the axis of the shaft 9 and slidably mounted in a bushing 4I fixed in the housing of the folding head. Extending radially from the inward end of the cylindrical portion 46 there is a tongue 42 which enters between the plates 36 at the ywedge-shaped portions. The end of the cylindrical portion 46 is shaped as shown at 43 to engage the wedge-shaped edges of the plates 36. An axial extension 44 of the tongue 42 has secured thereon a winding or folding blade 45. A like folding blade 46 is carried by the |blade carrier 39. The blade carrier 38 is spring pressed into contact with the wedge-shaped edges of the plates 36 by a compression spring 41 acting between the base of a bore 48 in the end of the cylindrical portion and the adjacent wall of the housing. A stop screw 49 adjustably limits v outward movement of the blade carrier.

The wire from which the folded filament is formed is wound about the blades 45 and 46 into a flat coil. After a predetermined number of turns, the number to form the desired folded filament, the solenoid 26 is energized, in a manner hereinafter explained, to move the rod I24 against the action of the spring 25. Upon movement of the plates 36, to the right as seen in Fig. 6, the blade carriers move radially inwardly until the opposing edges of the tongues engage. A movement of about twenty thousandths of an inch is sufcient to release the folded filament and insure against scraping the coating at the folds as the folded filament is pushed off the end of the blades.

The folded lament is pushed off the end of the blades by a pusher 5Il actuated by movement of the rod 24. The pusher 50 has an end section 5I having openings through which the blades extend, and it is mounted on a rod 52 extending from a block 53. The block 53 is received in recesses in the plates 36 and the tongues of the blade carriers. There is a clearance at 54 betweenfthe block and the adjacent edges of the plates 36. This clearance is to permit the plates 36 to move slightly before engaging the block and so moving the pusher. In this manner, the blades are first moved radially inwardly and then the pusher is moved, by engagement of the block with the edges of the plates 36, to push 2344s, are

the oldedllamenttoward the ends ofthe blades:

45- and 4%.'

The: separationI of the blades 45 and 4.6: will depend upon the size orr length of the folded iilament desired'. The particular blades shown` aref f or an evenly wound or Ifolded lament in which all; of. the legs are of the same length.

This arrangement is suitable for low voltage filaments. For high. voltage lilaments itfis desirableftof `have the legs of uneven length sothat adjacent: folds will not be in contact. When such. filaments are Vwound the blades 45 and 45 are'. replaced with blades having stepped edges sotasto: form legs of unequal length in the folded iilamenh'the wire being fed over the stepsl in the: desired sequence.

The wire is fed to the blades through the wire feedj mechanism (Figs. 1, 2,. 8, 9, 10, l1, 12, 13 andi 14)". The wire is delivered wound on a cardboardcylinder', and the feed mechanism includes aiholder for. the cylinder. This holder consists of a; drum 55T rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 55 secured in a` standard extending up'- wardly from a bracket 51 that is secured on the head stock (Fig. 2). The drum has leaf springs 58i which extend through slots therein and serve to` engage the cylinder on which the wire is wound. A- pulley 59 is secured to the drum and a tensioning arrangement is provided for providing a frictional force to prevent free rotation cf.v the drum, and to maintain the wire fed to the folding head under tension. This tension arrangement consists of a belt secured at one end, through a spring 60, to a pin 6I, and at the`- other end to a thumb screw E2 threaded through a lug 63. The wire from the drum passes beneath a V-grooved reel 54 loosely mounted on astub shaft 65, through a busser cleaner 66, over a reel El, partially around a reel -6'8 and down to guide rollers B9.

As' the wire is folded over the blades 45 and 461, the velocity of the wire at the blades varies from a maximum to a minimum as the blades are-rotated at a constant speed. Without some compensation, this action would result in a jerky take-off and under certain conditions snap the wire. To avoid this difhculty, compensating mechanism is provided which acts through the reelT 60; This reel is 'mounted at one end of an arm 'l0 that is pivotally secured at the opposite end'to'thebracket 5l. The compensating mechanisrn acts through the arm 'l0 to raise and lower the reel 68 v and so adds to or takes from the lengthI efA the Wire and maintains a constant take-off from the drum.

For this purpose, one end of a vertically extendingV rodI 1-'| is connected, through a link 12, to'- the armA '|-0. The lower end of the rod is pivctally connected to one arm 13 of a bell crank lever le. The other arm 75 oi the lever '|14` carries a slidably mounted block 1B which mayI beV adjusted, through ank adjusting screw with respect Vto the pivot 'i8 of the bell crank lever. A pair of links 79 are pivotally connected, at one end to the block 16 and at the other end to a lever 80, intermediate the ends thereof. The lever 80 is pivoted at one endy to a bracket 8| andZ at theA other end carries a cam follower 82 whichv cooperates with a cam S3. rThe arm 'l0 is resiliently urged, by a spring, in a direction to maintain the cam follower in contact with the edge of the cam 83. This cam 83, which is mounted on the shaft I3, is so designed as to compensate, through the movement of the reel 68; for theirregul'aritylin, theiwinding to produce thefifoldednlament. The: adjustable' block 1.6.7 maybe positionedy or adjusted in` accordance with. the length of the. legs, or' the separation of. the. bladess4i5 and 4h',v of. the folded filament.'

The busserfcleaner is .for the-purpose of cleaning the coating `from the wire to provide bare or uncoated' endl portions` at the endsof a folded filament; VIt is` actuated intermittently, in a manner-.hereinafter described, and in timed relation to. provide a bared. portion that will serveA for the end lead of oneiilament and the starting: lead `of the. next filament. This busser cleaner includesl` an electromagnet 84mcunted on a plateA 35iA The magnet acts upon a resilient armature 86? which has arr extension 81 extending into an opening in a plunger-GBL A rubber'bushing 80vv isproviderl'fcr` engagingv the extension 8'|-. The plungerv is" slidabl'y' mounted in a bracket 90, mountedonthe plate 85, and 'carries a head 0| havingf a iibrerendfpiece- 92. The fibre end piece` is opposite a hardened steel anvil 93 mounted in a bracket 90. The*4k wire passes between the libre end piecey 92@ and the anvil 93. When the busser' operates; the plunger 03" is vibrated and the libre end piece 92 impacts the wire against the anvil at a vibratory rate. This results,'with out undue clamping of the wire, in freeingI the coating'fromA the wire asV it movesv along. The frequency ofti opera-tion of the busser will, of course;` dependY upcn'the length of the folded filament and the duration" ofoperationV will depend upon the desired length of the lead.

Eromthebusser cleaner.; the wire passes over the reel 68 and `between* guide rollers 6.9 andtdy the` blades 45 and 46 ofthe windingV head'. The guide rollers. aremounted on a lever which, as hereinafter described,4 is movedy to cause the wire to traverse, in the desired manner over the blades. Thisconstruction includes a U'shaped bracketA 9`41'in which the rollers (ill areV rotatably mounted* orrcenteringv set screws 95 threaded through thel arms ofthe bracket. A rod- 96 extendsffrom one-arm of the bracket 94" and is securedin an opening in a block 91 by a set screw 98. Another rod 99 depending from the block 91" is received in a hollow post |00, secured in and extending upwardly. from the end -of a lever |0`|,; which is pivotedt intermediate its'ends on a pivot( |02 extending from another lever- |03-, On the opposite endof the lever l'0|, there-ismounted' a camfollower` |04' which engages a face cam |05 secured on the cam shaft 20;

Thelever |03'- is .pivoted at onev end Ion a bracket/:|136- (Fig. 2) mounted on the bed |01 of the machine; On the' opposite end ofthe lever, |03,A there is acam follower |08L which engages a'f-acecarn |09; (Figs: 2 and 13) also'mounted onV and secured tol thel shaft 20; The nature of the cams |05and|-09idependiupon whether straight edgefolding or winding-blades are used, such as theblades 45 andC 46; or whether stepped blades,` for makingy filaments of uneven legs, are used. The cams illustrated are for straight edge blades;

For' straight edge blades, the caml |09has onev rise and one depression, and the cam |05 has: a constantv risefor feeding successive loopsV and a rise'forbringing the wireY over thewirel cutter. The; movement of the levers. |104 and |031, byvirtue ofthe4 cams |105. and. Illaissuch Vastoinove the guide. rollers` 6.9 to: effect. a winding, such. as` is. illustrated in Fig.,1.4.. In describing; this. moyement, reference; being-had toi Figs. 13Z and 14,1 it; is, assumed that lone filament has been folded andmoved intothe clamping or carryingnjaws;

hereinafter described. In the start of the winding of afolded filament, the wire is grabbed and held by the cutter of the clamping and cutter head which rotates at the same speed as the winding head. At this point, the cam follower |08 enters the dip or depression of the cam |09. This' moves the rollers 69 to the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 13, and carries the wire ||0 to a point, such as the point on the blade 46. As the blades rotate andthe wire passes over the edge of the blade 45, as at ||2, the cam follower |03 is engaged by the rise in the cam |09. The guide rollers are then moved slightly to the right, as seen in Fig. 13, and carries the wire to the left to cross the first layer, as at ||3, and so anchor the rst leg of the filament. Thereafter, the constant rise of the cam comes into play and moves the rollers, to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 13, to effect the constant pitch in the winding or folding of the wire over the blades. After the required number of turns is effected, the cam follower |04 is engaged by the abrupt rise in the cam |05 and the feed rollers are moved sharply to the right, as seen in Figs. 1 and 13, to carry the wire, as shown at ||4 in Fig. 14, so that it is engaged by the cutter head. The folded fllament is then pushed by the pusher 5| into the clamping jaws, as will hereinafter be described, and the cycle is repeated. After, the anchoring turn, the wire is cut so that the folded lament in the clamping jaws is free and may lbe moved to a position to be received in the receiving receptacle.

The cutter and clamp jaw head is mounted on the end of a hollow shaft or spindle ||5 which extends from the tail stock toward the winding head. On the end of the shaft ||5, thereis mounted and secured to the shaft a grooved collar ||6. From this collar ||6, a supporting plate |1 extends toward the windinghead. The shears or cutters and clamping jaws are mounted 4on this supporting plate. The clamping jaws ||8 and ||9 are formed at the end of levers |20 and |2| pivoted on a common pivot |22 secured in a block |23 that is mounted on the supporting plate. The levers are spring pressed, by a coil spring |24 to the `position in which the jaws are closed. The end of the levers ||8 and ||9, opposite the jaws, are shaped as shown in Fig. 18 to receive an actuator head |25 which, when moved forward towards the pivot, as hereinafter described, moves the levers to open the jaws against the action of the spring |24.

The cutter which is also supported by the supporting plate includes a movable lug |26 which extends slightly beyond the jaws and has a groove |21 therein and a shearing edge |28. A xed shear blade shearing edge |28. Thisblade is secured in position to cooperate with the shear edge |29 of the lug |26. The movable lug is actuated by a slidable rod I3 Upon movement of the rod |3| to the left, Figs. and 16, the lug |26 is moved away from cutting position; movement in the opposite direction brings the blade into a shearing action.

The shear lug |26 and the clamping jaws are actuated by longitudinal movement of a rod |32 slidably mounted vin the shaft ||5 and extending through the end thereof. On the end of the rod |32, there is secureda xture |33 having the a-ctuator head' |25 formed thereon. A square pin |34 extends from the fixture and between arms |35 and |36 formed on the shear blade actuator |3|. Set Screws |31 and |38 are threaded through |29 cooperates with the the arms |35 and |36 respectively and are in position to engage the pin |34 upon movement of the rod |32. A spring |39 secured at one end to a pin |40 fixed in the rod |3| and at the other end to a xed pin |4|, serves, as hereinafter explained, to move the lug |26 to a clamping or wire holding position with respect to the blade |29.

The cutter and clamping head is moved from a retracted position (Fig. 1) to an advanced position, with the clamping jaws adjacent the winding blades, through a bifurcated lever |42. This lever is mounted on the end of a shaft |43 journaled in a bearing bracket |44 that is mounted on the bed plate |01. On the arms of the bifurcated lever |42, there are rollers |45 extending into the grooved collar ||6 xed on the shaft ||5. On the opposite end of the shaft |43, there is secured an arm |46 having a cam follower |41 thereon which engages a cam |48 mounted on the shaft 20. Through the cam |48 and the cam follower |41, the cutter and clamping head is advanced and retracted in timed relation to the winding head.

The shaft ||`5 is slidably mounted in a sleeve |49 in the tail stock and keyed thereto, and extends beyond the tail stock. The rod |32 which extends through the shaft |09 has a grooved collar |50 secured on the end thereof. A bifurcated lever |5|, mounted on one end of a transverse shaft |52 has rollers |53 thereon engaging in the groove of the collar |50. The shaft |52 is journaled in a bearing bracket |54, and on the opposite end thereof, there is 'secured an arm |55 carrying a @am follower |56 that engages a, cam |51 mounted on the shaft 26. Through this cam the rod is actuated, as hereinafter described.

The shaft |3 extends into the tail stock and has mounted on Ithe end thereof a spur gear |58 which meshes with a spur gear |59, in a one to one ratio. The gear |59 is loosely mounted on the sleeve |49 and connected to the sleeve |49 to effect the rotation thereof and the shaft ||5, which is keyed to the sleeve, through a clutch |60. This clutch includes a plate |6| secured to the gear by machine screws |62 and pins |62a. These screws extend through slots |63 in the plate so that the plate may be adjusted to secure the proper timing. On the edge of the plate there is a gradual depression ending in a shoulder |64 which cooperates with a hook-shaped end |65 of a pivotally mounted lever |66. The lever |66 is pivoted between its ends on a pivot |'61 extending from a radially extending plate |68 formed on the sleeve |40. The lever is spring pressed in a direction to keep the hook-shaped end |65 in engagement with the edge of the plate |6|. The opposite end of the lever |66 is shaped as shown flr engagement with the end of a control lever Through the control lever |69, the operation of Ithe clutch is effected. This lever is pivoted between its ends at |10 and has an abutment end piece |1| secured on one end thereof and positioned to engage the lever |66. On the opposite end of the lever |66, there is a Cam follower |12 which cooperates with a cam |13 mounted on the cam shaft 20. As shown in Fig. 22, the parts are in an intermediate position in which the sleeve is clutched to the gear and is rotating in a clockwise direction. The cam follower |12 is at the low part of the cam |'13 and the end piece |1| of the control lever is in the path of the lever |66. As the lever |66 is engaged by the end piece |1|,

it is swung about its pivot and the hook-shaped -end .1 iisdisengaged from the shoulder |64. The :sleeve Ais "thus :declutched and ceases to rotate. 'When the cam follower |12 becomes `engaged by `the high 'point :of 'the cam |13, the end piece |11 'isfmovedraway :from and out of the path of the Alever |56. The hook-.shaped end of the lever then engages `the edge of the .plate |61 and becomes engaged with the shoulder |64 when it moves -around to engaging position.

the-:reduced end |14 of the shaft y20, which `:extends through an end bearing bracket (Figs. I1, '2, 23 andzll), there are'mounted apair of .adjustable arms '|16 and |11 having conical shaped 'Iend1pie'ces118 and l|19 respectively. These end pieces are adjusted and positioned to cooperate with pluugers |80 and |81 on electrical switches |182 and '|83 respectively. As the end pieces |18 y'and 19 pass the plungers |80 and |81, they engage -cam followers on the ends ofthe plungers and .eifect actuation o'f the switches. The switch "|83 controls the energization of the solenoid 26, and 'the switch 182 controls the energization of Athe 'busser cleaner.

In the retracted position of the jaws, a folded yfilament `is Apositioned to be received in an opening in a receiving dial |`84 when the dial is moved .in toward the jaws. The dial is rotatablymounted on a stub shaft |85 secured in a lever |86 that -is pivoted 1in a bracket |81 below the bed plate. A vbar or link |88 extends from a point intermediate the ends of the lever |80 to one end of a lever |88a pivoted between its ends on a bracket 188D extending 'from an upright |88c. Another link |8Bd connects the other end of the lever 103m with alever |89, between the ends thereof. The

lever |89 is pivoted yat one end in a'bracket |99 and at the other end carries a cam follower `|`9|. The cam vfollower |91' cooperates with an edge cam |92.

Through the cam |92 the receiving dial is moved `toward the clamping jaws as represented by the dotted line position (Fig. 25) to receive a lfolded filament. In the edge of the dial there are a series of bushings |93 having openings therein `to receive a folded filament. When the dial -is moved toward the clamping jaws kone of "these openings is aligned With a folded'filament held in the clamping jaws. As the folded filament is entered into the opening, the jaws open and release the filament. The dial is then returned and vin returning, is indexed through a ratchet |914 and pawls |95, in a manner wellknown in the art, to position the dial with the lnext opening in line with a filament held in the jaws. `s'tituted for the openings in the dial. With the dial, the folded filaments are removed manually and inserted in the cathode sleeve, for example.

AIn all instances where an edge or face cam is used, it is understood that a spring of requisite strength is used to maintain the cam follower in contact with the cam and effect the proper movement with the required force to move the mecha- Cylindrical cathode sleeves may be sub- 1this,.the firstand last vlegs of a-iilament are longer nisrn whenthe cam follower enters a dip in a cam. 'For the purpose of simplifying the vdis- 'closure-'and for greater claritygthese springs have 'not been disclosed ior described.

Inligs. 26 and 27, there is illustrated stepped blades |99 and |91 lfor folding filaments with unequal legs. The blade |95 has two steps |96a l'than the :other legs. This extra vlength .is the portion .from which the coating ha-s been `removed yby the busser cleaner vand constitute connecting leads for the :folded :.lament.

.At the start ofthe operation, :the coated wire :ispmanually threadedthrough .the wire feed mechyanism and :between th'e guide 'rollers A69. The end of the wire is then wound about one .ofthe fold blades 45 l or 46 :andthe :machine .is v.readyfor operation. The operator :then effects the yengagement 'of the clutch 8 .andthrough Vthe shaft 9, the 'winding head :is .continuously rotated. lOn the startof the windingthe rst filament wound .is-'discarded as the end is unsuitable, having been wound zaround'one of the blades to start the operation. `During the operation, the compensating `mechanism (Fig. 412) 'is constantly operating to eifect a uniform `withdrawal of wire vat a vcompensated speed from 'the drum 55, and-the shafts 13 and 20 are rotated continuously.

As the last leg of a filament is being Wound (Fig. 14), the v'cam |48 permits vthe advance of the cutter vand jaw :or Stake-off 'head 'D telai-position adjacent the 'endofthe folding blades. The clutch now engages to rotate the shaft |15 at the same speed as the winding'fheadthrough gears 1| and I2 (Fig. 5) shaft I3 and ygears |58 and |59 (Fig. 21). At the .same time as the cutter and fjaw head is advanced, the cam T151 is so positioned that therod |32 is moved forward, the clamping jaws |18 and ||9 are opened and the shear lug |25 is movedfout of shearing `position. The cam follower |04 now meets the abrupt rise in the cam |05 and carries the wire (Fig. 14)., as indicated by the leg |14 so that it overlies'and is engaged in the groove |21 on the Vcutterlug |29. As the wire is engaged by the cutterlug |29, the rod |32 is retracted slightly, notenough to aliect the jaw opening to any material extent, but just suiiiciently so that the spring `|39 moves the shearlug |26 to grip vthe wire by theshear blade |29. Practically simultaneously with this action, the .arm |89 engages the `plunger of the switch ltand the solenoid 26 is energized for an instant. The rod 24 is thus actuated. Th'e folding blades are thus retractedyand the ,pusher `5| actuated to ipush the folded filament lbetween the open jaws |18 and |19. The pusher is immediately retracted. In rapid sequence, almost simultaneously with the completion of the forward movement of the push'er, the rod |32 is retracted again a short distance t-o effect the closing of the jaws on the folded lament. The movement of the rodis, however, insuilicient for the pin |34 to engage the abutment set screw |38 at the right (Fig. `15). Thus, the wire remains only gripped by th'e shear lug |26 and blade |29 under .the light spring pressureof the spring |39.

As the rotation of the winding head and the cutter and jaw vhead continues (Figs. `13 `and 14), the cam follower |98 successively enters the depression and engages the rise in the cam |09 to lform the cross over and anchoring folds 110, l|| and H2, the cross vover `beingifat |13. The rod |32 is now fully retracted and the pin |34 engages the labutment screw |38, at the right (Fig. 15') to effect positive movement ofithe shear `lug-and'cut the wire by the shear blade 129. The cutter and jaw head is now retracted, the abutment lend piece 11| on the `lever |10 falls into `the path' of I:the clutch lever |66, the shaft |15 carrying the cutter and jaw head is declutched and stops rotating with the face of the jaws I I8 and I I9, and in consequence, the folded filament, arranged parallel to the table, horizontal in the machine shown. The receiving dial is now moved in and as the folded filament is received in the opening aligned with the filament, the rod l32 is moved to its full forward position to open the jaws. The dial is now returned with the folded filament and indexed. This cycle is repeated over and over during the operation of the machine.

From the foregoing description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it wil1 be apparent that by this invention there is provided a machine for continuously folding a succession of folded filaments and inserting the folded filaments in a receptacle. It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the illustrated embodiment of the invention within the principle and scope of the invention as eX- pressed in the appended claims,

We claim:

1. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising means for folding wire upon itself to form a folded filament, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is wound, means to rotate said arbor and to simultaneously feed said wire longitudinally of the axis of rotation of said arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for partially collapsing said arbor for releasing the folded filament from said folding means, means for receiving and transferring the folded filament in the folded condition from said folding means to a receptacle, and means for automatically operating said folding means and said transferring means in timed relation.

2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising means for folding wire upon itself to form a folded filament, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is wound, means to rotate said arbor and to simultaneously feed said wire longitudinally of the axis of rotation of said arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for partially collapsing said arbor for releasing the folded filament from said folding means, means for receiving the folded filament, means for transferring the folded filament from said folding means to said filament receiving means, and means automatically operating the said folding means and the said transferring means in timed relation.

3. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising means for folding wire upon itself to form a folded filament, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is wound, means to rotate said arbor and to simultaneously feed said wire longitudinally of the axis of rotation of said arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for partially collapsing said arbor for releasing the folded filament from said folding means, a receptacle for the folded filament, means for transferring the folded filament to said receptacle, and means automatically operating said transferring means and said folding means in timed relation.

4. In -a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising continuously operating Wire folding means for folding wire continuously to form a continuous succession of Zig-Zag folded laments, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is wound, means to rotate said arbor and simultaneously to feed said wire longitudinally of the rotational axis of the arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for removing each folded filament as it is formed from the said folding means, means for severing the wire at the conclusion of each folded lament, means for anchoring the wire to said folding means for the start of the next succeeding folded filament, and means for automatically operating all said foregoing means in timed relation.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising continuously operating wirefolding means for folding wire continuously to form a continuous succession of zig-Zag folded filaments, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is Wound, means to rotate said arbor and to' simultaneously feed said wire longitudinally o-f the axis of rotation of said arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for removing each folded filament as it is formed from said folding means, means for receiving each folded filament removed from said folding means, means for severing the wire at the conclusion of each folded filament, means for anchoring the sev-ered wire t0 said folding means for the start of the next succeeding folded filament, a receptacle for the folded filament, means for moving said receiving means to position the folded filament received thereby with respect to the receptacle, means for effecting relative movement between the receiving means and the receptacle for inserting the folded filament in the receptacle, and means for automatically operating all the said foregoing means in timed relation.

6. In a machine of the kind described for folding wire into folded filaments, the combination comprising a rotatable folding head including spaced, folding blades extending therefrom, and movable radially of the folding head, means movable longitudinally of the folding blades for removing a folded filament from the folding blades, and means operable upon the start of operation of said filament removing means for effecting movement of the folding blades towards each other, whereby the filament is not scraped at the folds by the blades as it is removed therefrom.

'7. In a machine of the kind described, the combination comprising a folding head on which the wire is folded, said means including a rotatable arbor around which the wire is wound, means to rotate said arbor and to simultaneously feed said wire longitudinally of the axis of rotation of said arbor to form it into a flattened helix means for removing a folded filament from the folding head including opposed relatively movable jaws resiliently urged to closed position, means for opening the jaws, means for positioning the opened jaws to receive a folded filament as it is removed from the folding head and releasing the jaws thereon, means for moving the jaws away from the folding head, means for opening the jaws and removing the folded filament therefrom, and means for operating said foregoing means automatically in timed relation.

8. In a folding machine of the kind described for folding wire into folded filaments and the like, the combination comprising 4a rotatable folding head, means for feeding Wire to said folding head including movable wire guide means for guiding the wire von to the folding head, means for holding the wire during the first loop of a fold, and means for moving said wire guide means to cause Ione leg of the fold to cross over another, whereby the wire is anchored to the folding head.

9. In ya folding machine of the kind described for folding Wire into folded filaments and the like, the combination comprising a rotatable fold- 

